KTM X-BOW now street legal in Aus
KTM Sportcar GmbH, the side-branch of the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer, confirmed on 9 March that "after a long an occasionally stony road" the X-Bow has finally been registered for road use in Australia.
Sydney-based Simply Sports Cars hosted the local launch, which was attended by KTM Sportcar GmbH's General Manager Michael Wolfling, plus 200 other special and invited guests.
"I am very pleased with the level of interest in the KTM X-BOW. I am sure that Australia will be an important market for us!" Wolfling said.
Simply Sports Cars (who are also distributors for Lotus) and Motorland in Queensland are the two initial dealerships for the X-Bow, which goes to market with a price tag of $169,990, excluding ORCs. Australian sales will be limited to just 25 units per year, as part of the government's Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme (SEVS).
The small-volume cap, as part of the SEVS, allows the X-Bow to be road-registerable, despite lacking safety features like ABS, traction control and airbags. However, the X-Bow did undergo Australian-specific crash testing overseas and passed the SEVS criteria.
The X-Bow 'R' released here is powered by a 2.0-litre Audi four-cylinder turbo engine, outputting a claimed 200kW and 400Nm, all in a dry weight of only 790kg, thanks to its minimalist body and extensive use of carbon fibre. Other listed performance figures include a 3.9-second 0-100km/h time and 231km/h top speed.
The main body of the X-Bow is a carbon fibre monocoque and nosecone, the latter of which is a 'Crash Box' designed to absorb impacts and rated to international-level motorsport standards.
An aluminium spaceframe holds the engine and transmission, which is a 6-speed manual, while the roll hoops are also in aluminium and capable of taking more than twice the car's bodyweight in the event of a rollover.
An option pack for the X-Bow is designed to make it more of a track weapon and includes a front splitter and rear spoiler, HANS-compatible seat headrests, tow hook, and additional aerodynamic add-ons.
Contact Simply Sports Cars for further details on (02) 8424 7777, or go to: simplysportscars.com
